Friday, January 21, 2005

CARDIFF IN THE TOP TENCardiff has been voted one of Britain’s top ten cities in a national magazine survey. The award is an early birthday present for the city which is celebrating 100 years as a city and 50 years as the capital of Wales.

Cardiff’s architecture, with its distinctive Victorian and Edwardian arcades, makes it a favourite with visitors and shoppers alike. But it’s the mixture of history and cutting edge design which makes the capital such a unique destination. From the dazzling interiors of Cardiff Castle to the exciting waterfront development in Cardiff Bay, a visit to Europe’s youngest capital is something that readers of Period Living and Traditional Homes magazine rate in their top 10 in the UK.

There has never been a better time to explore the city’s world class museums and galleries, wander through its acres of parkland, take in a show at the glittering Millennium Centre or soak-up the atmosphere at the magnificent Millennium Stadium.

Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member (Culture, Leisure and Sport), welcomed the award: “Cardiff is a truly unique city packed with visitor attractions and a waterside location that’s hard to beat. I’m not surprised it has been voted into the top 10 of UK cities, but it is especially good news during its centenary year. “

More Road Re-SurfacingCarriageway surfacing work will be taking place soon on Moira Terrace and Glossop Road. Work is programmed to start in Moira Terrace on Monday 24th January and in Glossop Road on Wednesday 26th January. Each is expected to last for 2 days, subject to the weather conditions.During this time lane restrictions will be in operation from approximately 19:30 to 24:00 hours.

CARDIFF 2005 – JOIN THE CELEBRATIONJANUARY AND FEBRUARY EVENTS GET INTO FULL SWING

CARDIFF 2005’s packed calendar of events to celebrate the centenary of the city and golden jubilee as the capital of Wales picks up pace this weekend with the Reebok Cross-country International Challenge.

The Calennig party that welcomed in the city’s double anniversary may be a distant memory for some already but the celebrations are set to continue all year in Cardiff starting with the annual cross-country event in Bute Park on Sunday, January 23.

Love will be in the air at the Museum of Welsh Life in St Fagans on January 25 on Dydd Santes Dwynwen – the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Visitors can learn how and why lovespoons are made or put a team of poets to the test as they compete head-to-head to win the audience’s vote.

Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra are giving a special performance of their popular A Night at the Movies concert at St David's Hall on Friday February 11 in aid of the Tsunami Disaster Appeal. Supported by Cardiff Council, all proceeds from the performance will be going to the Appeal fund.

The programme includes the Welsh premiere of music from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, as well as music from blockbusters such as Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean and Gladiator.

The Gwen and Augustus John exhibition opens at the National Museum and Gallery on February 12 giving the people of Cardiff and Wales a superb opportunity to see the paintings and drawings by the brother and sister from Pembrokeshire together and in contrast.

And the Moving Stories exhibition, charting Cardiff’s relationship with transport over the last 100 years, continues at the Old Library throughout January and February looking at how local people have used transport for work and play.

Schools in Cardiff are being given the opportunity to learn about global issues and to participate in discussions about refugees in an innovative programme “Safe/Diogel”. This is a series of participatory drama-based workshops given by the internationally renowned Small World Theatre. The initiative includes a performance within an extraordinary revolving set of the World and a refugee mentor introduces the story following a young boy’s journey from West Africa to a playground in Wales.

The Capital Poet – Cardiff’s very own bard who will record the workings of the Council and the city in verse will be announced in February – and “Future Focus in the Arts and sports” will celebrate young people on the brink of their careers who have been nominated for awards to support their work. These will be announced alongside the launch of the 2005 participatory programme next month which will outline the wide range of ways for citizens to get involved in the celebrations – from animation to dance, from storytelling to tennis.

Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Councillor Nigel Howells said: “It’s great to see such a variety of events being held, all helping us to continue the momentum of the celebrations after Calennig in this very special year in our history.

“We want this year to be a truly memorable one for everyone in Cardiff and Wales as we commemorate 100 years as a city and 50 years as the capital.”

In addition to Cardiff 2005’s special events, the capital plays host to a number of attractions in this centenary year.

Wales take on England in the Six Nations Championship on February 5 and the Carling Cup final will be played at the Millennium Stadium on February 27.

The Orchestra National de Lyons visit as part of St David’s Hall’s Orchestral Concert Series and the Welsh National Opera begins its first season at the Wales Millennium Centre with productions of La Traviata, Wozzeck, Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci.

Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Your Chance To Tell Your Cardiff Story

Do you remember the Empire and Commonwealth Games, the Greenham Common March or the opening of the Millennium Stadium? Were you in the crowd when the Pope visited Cardiff or when the Beatles played the Capitol? Or maybe you have a photo that your grandfather took of Ernest Willows on his airship flight over Cardiff in 1910?

As part of the city’s centenary celebrations, Cardiff is developing its own computerised community archive, called One City, and local people are being invited to add their own photographs and recollections of city events over the past 100 years.

Visitors to the Old Library in The Hayes can browse the memories already logged in the archive, but the Council is keen to make the database as comprehensive as possible so over the coming weeks staff will be on hand to help people learn how to use the archive and input their own stories. Sessions will be held from 11am-3:30pm in the exhibition area in the Old Library on January 22 and 29 and February 5 and 12 when anyone is welcome to call in and make their contribution. There’s no need to book in advance.

As well as memories of landmark events, there will be a special section dedicated to Cardiff Market and it’s hoped that many of its customers, staff and stallholders will share stories and pictures that can be used in a display in the Market later this year.

Anna Smith from Cardiff Council, who’s leading the One City project, says that the community archive is something everyone can get involved in.

“One City gives everyone a chance to tell their part of the Cardiff story and I hope that we’ll be able to use some of the material in future exhibitions.

“Cardiff’s archive will continue to develop and we hope that in time community groups will establish similar archives for their own part of the city.”

Councillor Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, said the archive was an appropriate way to celebrate Cardiff’s first 100 years as a city.

“One City is a wonderful opportunity for us to leave a legacy for future generations,” he said, “so it’s fitting that it’s being set up during this, Cardiff’s centenary year.

“It’s nice to think that over the next 100 years the city will enjoy many more events that will be recorded in the archive and remembered in the bicentenary celebrations in 2105.”

The One City archive is on view free of charge at the Old Library from 10am to 4pm daily and it’s hoped that further sessions will be arranged in the near future when more people can contribute to it. Visitors can also enjoy the free Moving Stories exhibition which is on in the Old Library until May 29.
For more information on the One City community archive or if you’re interested in starting your own local community archive please contact Anna Smith on 029 20 353266.

44 to 45 Clifton StreetAt the Planning Committee meeting on 19th January 2005, an application is being considered to create four one bedroom flats on the rear ground floor and first floors of 44 and 45 Clifton Street.To achieve this conversion, it is proposed to demolish the existing two storey rear annex at 44 Clifton Street and rebuild.The proposal will result in a reduction in the size of the ground floor shop unit at 44 Clifton Street.The recommendation of the Council Officers is for the application to be granted.

Friday, January 14, 2005

COUNCIL EXECUTIVE MEMBER CALLS FOR MORE OPENESS IN CHILD PROTECTION

“Children must be protected from the risk of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, crime and drugs and alcohol. That is why openness and information sharing is a priority issue that has to be placed at the forefront of our respective organisations. The jealous guarding of information needs to be consigned to the dustbin of history.”

This was the message from Cllr John Dixon, Cardiff Council’s Executive Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing, to delegates at the Cardiff Children and Young People’s Partnership seminar on “Enabling Information Sharing: Learning by Experience” seminar at Cardiff’s City Hall on Friday 14th January.

The Cardiff Children’s and Young People’s Partnership is a multi agency body that is working to improve information sharing between agencies that deal with vulnerable young people in the city. The body, which is in part a response to the Lord Laming report on the death of Victoria Climbie, aims to improve the life chances for children and young people in Cardiff and prevent them from suffering from harm.

He told delegates from a wide spectrum of agencies, including other local authorities, from across Wales that: “If organisations are to pay more than lip service to partnership working – if they are serious about translating their policies into practice – then they have to be serious about becoming open, outward-looking organisations that are willing to engage with others honestly and constructively.”

He told the conference that in Cardiff alone:

26% of children aged 0 to 15 – that’s 16,000 youngsters - live in households dependent upon Income Support

In the city’s southern arc this rises to an average of some 38.5% of all dependent children living in relative child poverty

And the picture is similar across Wales. Few nations in the European Union are facing such a major challenge in terms of improving the life chances and opportunities of children and young citizens.

He continued: “These are complex issues that can only be tackled through a concerted and sustained attempt to link up organisations and to develop a cohesive and dynamic children’s agenda. And that’s why the establishment of Children and Young People’s Partnerships has represented such a major step forward.”

“For too long children’s issues were dealt with in organisational and professional silos with organisations concentrating on discharging their own responsibilities without reference to the wider range of issues facing children in society. I think there’s a genuine recognition now that close, even integrated, partnership working is a precondition of progress.”

As the season closed yesterday with last minute skaters exercising off the Christmas pounds, Cardiff Council can reflect on its busiest season to date, with 58,000 people taking to the bmibaby open-air ice rink, and well over 200,000 Cardiff residents and visitors taking full advantage of the rink-side attractions.

Less than 5% of the 400 plus skating sessions had to be cancelled due to poor weather, usually as a result of the wind and heavy rain. However, every effort was made to get people on to the ice, except when the conditions caused health and safety risks.

Reflecting on Wonderland’s six-week stint, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture Councillor Nigel Howells said: “Despite increased competition from other emerging open air rinks, Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland attracted record crowds with people traveling from even farther afield this year. I am delighted that Cardiff hosts what many consider to be the best of its kind in terms of quality and value anywhere in the UK.”

“Winter Wonderland does not return a profit, and we are therefore very grateful to our sponsors and partners for their financial contributions. It’s a great event for Cardiff, and we are determined to keep admission prices at a reasonable level to enable as many people as possible to enjoy it.”

Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland returns this year on November 24 and runs until January 8 2006.